Workshop Weekend in Ithaca

Oliver and Silvina both had birthdays on November 7th so the weekend was special for all of us. Dinner hosts at the farm made our stay even more special. Wolfgang and Susan concocted a carrot soup that was laced with ginger. The rest of the meal was equally delicious. Nice to visit with Joaquin, Vatan, Juan and other tango lovers.
Workshop 1 - rebounds with a slow, quick, slow beat. Most of the guys mastered the step but not the beat.
Workshop 2- interrupting the cross. This was gorgeous but hard to lead. I decided to do the cruzada every time unless the interruption was clear. Worked well for me. The first one we learned was an overturned cruzada. This is my favorite walking step this year or maybe ever. I have to remember to drill into the floor before the forward step.
Anyway I don't know how the Durkins drive the distance in 1 1/2 hours. 2 hours and we were just pulling in - the last 30 minutes seemed like forever in the dark.
The more we organize and get ready for our trip to BsAs the messier it gets.
Bonfire might be good right now. Too many clothes, too much clutter and not enough time to do something about it all.

Words by Deby Novitz- thoughts by many

Deby has an honest and interesting blog.
She is an expat who in now a resident of BsAs.
Also rents rooms to tourists.

http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/whose-tango-is-it/
In the arms of some old guy I would get a music lesson. In the U.S. you dance the same to every song. People dance tango to vals, a tango variation to milonga, the same steps to everything. Here in Buenos Aires I was told that you dance different to each orchestra. Long back steps to DiSarli, more giros to D’arienzo. It was exciting. There was so much to learn and the milonga was my teacher.
What makes Argentine Tango unique is the abrazo – the embrace. When you take that away, you take away the essence of the dance. The tango is a seduction. It is two people playing with each other. The tango like a seduction is improvisation. It is not the same steps over and over again. When you take away the embrace, you dance the same steps over and over again, and you don’t even dance it to tango music, what are you dancing?

Why did I worry?

Just the most wonderful time for all of us and I've never seen a milonga like the Oliver and Silvina version. Good food and the most gorgeous evening surrounded by our friends, the true- believers- and 6 tango instructors under one tent roof. Back in the spring for our 4th summer.

Moving the Date and Getting Ready

Oliver and Silvina don't mind the cold and we don't mind the cold, but we moved the tent closing back two weeks this year so our last night would be a bit balmy. The forecast looked dismal. Mike and I ran around trying to rent another propane heater for the other end of the tent, but nothing was left for the weekend. Home Depot had a 7 footer with a gorgeous copper base. "Takes about 30 minutes to construct" Hah!
Walter came on Friday to make Pigs in the Blanket. "Goes really quickly" Hah!
I never want to see a cabbage again!
So tonight we'll see how it goes. Mike and I have to hang plastic sheeting around the small tent, clean the floor and add all the finishing touches.
Thank god for friends who always help and give us support for this crazy endeavor. Thank God for Oliver and Silvina who teach us the tango.

Joaquin at Jack's

All kinds of walking -leg wraps and boleos. The variety was fun. Having Cathie work with Joaquin helped me understand the movements. 3 hours of satisfying work and another inch of improvement. Mike danced with ease and added many new moves. Who was that man? Melissa has the tango bug. Maybe we need a vaccine to calm us down and kill the bug. Ron is new and I hope he comes back. Joe is a natural tango guy. I love them all. Donna and Maureen were so cool leading and being guys for a day. Offering to do that is the hardest thing for me to imagine. It was a wonderful afternoon.

ANASTOMOSIS/ANASTOMOSE

Gene gave me a book to read after Jill's tango lesson 2 in Tunkhannock. "Body of Work -Meditations on Mortality from the Human Anatomy Lab". Did I need to spend this week inside a cadaver named Eve with all the detailed description of nerves, muscles, bones- their origins and insertions -down to tiny details?

Tango, as it always does, creeps its way into everything I read, and arrives on page 96 where I stumble on anastomosis, a word I haven't seen since 10th grade advanced biology( a shark and cat- not a human).

The word means the intersection of 2 parts and their subsequent shared pathways. Comes from the Greek word meaning to intercommunicate.
: the union of parts or branches (as of streams, blood vessels, or leaf veins) so as to intercommunicate or interconnect.

This beautiful word gives our tango a joining. I think of the communication in tango that almost joins us for 3 minutes of silence. Maybe I just like the word.

SVPA Center in Stroudsburg- September 5th

What did I really think of the Oliver Kolker and Silvina Valz lesson?
I needed it.
The men are not moving the women forward like they do in BsAs. No "marca" to me means the drive is not coming from the body but from the legs. This I know has to be changed. If we keep doing beginner after beginner lesson the participants get bored, but then the dance never becomes tango. How do you mix the basic, much needed embrace and posture with the much desired fancy stepping and footwork?
Well, if I knew the answer I'd be the tango teacher not the silent observing beginner.
My memory holds the feeling from the real milongueros- Eduardo Saucedo, Chiche, Demian Garcia, Fernando, Gustavo Zaid, Jesus Valesquez, JCC- who drive forward like a tractor form the core and the chest- who take me with them on a ride around the floor. More men should dance with these men to channel that steady forward and horizontal force. Mike looks a bit silly, but always asks the strong leaders to lead him once around the floor. Today I add his name to the above list.

Diatribe on chemical exposure during tango- Posted by Omar

Today is the first day of my vacation. I am going camping on the Delaware River with S B:-) She is going to paint up a storm...maybe even in a storm:-O I woke up this morning and my nose started running. Now it is running non-stop and I am halfway through a roll of toilet paper that I am using to blow my nose because I've run out of tissue...where was I last night, oh yeah, tango and now I am covered with various chemical intoxicants from 8 different women. It's like I'm a 5'10" cotton swab taking chemical samples during tandas.
Now I've got to choose between taking an allergy pill and being groggy all day or take a chance that there will be no further escalation of my allergy symptoms after I take a shower. I choose the shower...here goes!
Okay, I'm outta the shower, I'll pray later. If I choose poorly then S B's day will be adversely affected because the next few days are all for her. I promised I'd take her to this particular spot so she could paint for a few days. I'm like her personal riverguide. That means I pretty much do everything for her as I take her down the Delaware River in my canoe to the camping spot. The tent and sleeping bags and all that other gear is all packed in waterproof sacks. I will load the canoe on my van, which is a big task as I get older because it is nearly a hundred pounds and seems to get heavier every year...maybe it's just me.
Anyhow, I've got to get the van loaded, drive to the takeout(the point where we will be getting out of the river), meet S B, take her to the put-in(vice versa), take the canoe off the van, load it with all the gear so it is perfectly balanced so as not to tip over when we go through the rapids of which there are many, paddle us down to the camping area avoiding rocks and eel weirs along the way, unload the canoe, pitch the tent and chairs, make supper, pleasure S B with sweet talk and tender caresses all night long, fend off bears and animals of lesser size, make up lies about all those noises in the woods, pack up everything after two days so it all fits in the canoe and is perfectly balanced so as not to tip us over in the rapids, paddle to the take-out, load the canoe back on the van, drive home, unload the canoe and put away all the gear nice and neat so my house is organized and pleasant to live in. That last part never happens...my house is a mess.
If I am groggy due to the effects of allergy medicine I cannot do all these things and remain a chipper camper for very long. What should be a pleasant two-day outing on the river turns into an unpleasant cohabitation in a shoddy shelter devoid of the amenities and distractions necessary to make this sentence bearable...a visit by a bear would be a welcome distraction at this time.
I try to talk to women about allergens but I feel I am barking up a tree with no raccoon in it. I danced with a girl on Friday who's hairspray triggered an allergic reaction and ended up missing most of an excellent workshop in Stroudsburg on Saturday. In March, one particular woman nearly had me in the hospital. It was an excellent workshop with Steve Cook where I learned how to lead a back boleo between the leaders legs without getting castrated! It took me two weeks to get over that reaction.
It is hard for me to ask a woman to dance. Usually, I have just a few seconds to make my decision based on eye contact or attraction or whatever. If I have to consider the toxic content of a woman's total chemical application, I usually decide not to ask. God made women with sugar and spice and everything nice. Coco Chanel makes his fragrances with Chinese laborers doing everything they can to cut costs. Hairspray is the worst. Nothing is the best.
I dance with a woman at Dance Manhattan who always stinks of sweat. It's a little uncomfortable at first but then I get used to it and we dance many tandas together in the closest embrace possible, with no adverse reactions:-)
It looks like I chose wisely....my nose has stopped running and I am off to vacation where we will tango naked on the riverbank in just our dance shoes...whoooopppeeeeeee!!!!!;-) ;-)

Try Not to Focus on the Lead

If the lead is lousy, which it often is ( not you Mike), work on my own movement.
If "la marca" is nonexistant, feel what I can and GO.
If the man forgets about my axis, put myself on my axis and wait. Make my own dancing the best it can be step by step. A long leg reaching back from my upper torso would be an improvement and will give me something to work on at this weeks Sunday milonga. The traditional birthday waltz video in NY looks stilted and like my body is in a cast. Mike gets the brunt of my aggravation when the dance goes poorly. This has officially stopped. Now I pledge to improve my walk and balance through my own hard work. When we decide to work together on the dance we'll discuss it and hone our steps -practice hold first.
Changing the subject, the new dance floor in our dance room looks so much better than the old literally floating floor. Signature Floor expedited the delivery and we carried it down and laid it in about 2 hours after my birthday trip to NYC. When Andy and Svetlana come on Sunday they have another, cooler, choice of places to work for their maybe private lessons.

Grand plan!

Filter all dancers into the local studios that want to promote tango. Give the beginners, experienced dancers and every other walking human a place to tango on Sundays 5:30-8:30 for no charge. (This may not work out for the months we are in Argentina.) Make it special each week with videos, good food and drink and a quiet lovely setting. Let the tango happen and wash over this little community. Be the driving, binding, force behind the dancing, but accommodate all ideas. Work HARD to coordinate dates, times and instruction. Just work HARD!
Give up, and this dissolves back to a strictly ballroom community. Oh yeah! Work on my own dancing -more grace, flow and resistance in each step. Maybe a few less pounds would help make all this happen?

Ganchos

I don't understand this step at all. Someone needs to help me with the standing foot. Every woman I see doing ganchos has the feet in ugly knots. Mine are no better so I won't do them. Help please!

Last Part Added by Mike Lucey

After First Night in Scranton at Farley's I'm curious if all the couples we helped to start their tango walk around the tiled floor will grasp the beauty of the dance and come back for more. This perfect space may turn out to be our "winter tent", but tonight it seemed a little like a tango factory- men tilting their chests up- proudly, like they'd won a prize- weight up and forward. I showed them how to walk as if they were walking on top of cross country skis. This tip came from an excellent instructor in Portland on our first day of vacation in Oregon 2 years ago. Mike walked the women with his constant, steady, horizontal PUSH and then we threw them back together. Cathie walked with many with her ability to lead and follow. Many others pitched in to make this whirlwind evening a 100% success though another waitress would have helped. The Youngs are so gracious. Mike has this to add:

Argentine tango is asymmetrical, (BALLROOM IS SYMMETRICAL- PARTNERS MIRROR EACH OTHER) the man does different foot work from the one the woman executes. It is improvised, it is done primarily for feeling. The woman does not know what the man has in mind. She remains extremely attentive. The leader steps as he wishes, faster, slower, simple or double timing, pausing, etc. Tango is different each time, it is different with every partner therefore one can dance only tango all night long.

So it's not a factory, but there are tango dancers in the making in NE PA.

Frank answers a prayer

Frank calls with the almost too-good-to-be-true news that he's bringing an instructor here every week to a place in Pittston to teach private and group Argentine Tango lessons- not too far from us. If this works out it will be a huge boon to our struggling tango community. TANGO!! Now we'll dance the DANCE!

Going to a Quiet Place- A Little Affirmation

Lately I may have started to lose sight of the quiet intimate attraction of tango and why I first started a love affair with the dance. In 2005 when I saw Juan Carlos Copes in the movie TANGO I said, "I HAVE to do that."- Not "I want to do that" Lately taking the tango inside to a quiet place and keeping it there gets put on hold. Too many plans, flyers, arrangements detract from the essence of what the dance means to me. Watch out I say to myself as I get more and more caught up in organizing, making plans, setting dates for more events and lessons. Now that I can write and think about this I want to quietly go back to less Facebook banter and more intimacy with Mike. Let the party and quipping be over. For me the smaller group, the quiet group surrounds me in a peaceful way. Let me relax and move freely. Let me focus on the lyrical melancholy of the music and dance the dance for my soul. Let someone who has seriously studied in Argentina with the 'best of the best" take over the details so I can DANCE.

Far Out FANTASY

To make the day a little more interesting my far out fantasy might evolve. Just say, some famous person, maybe someone like Jaques D'Ambois, who I saw in the movie "Every Little Step" at the Kirby Center last week with Mike and Cathie, would call me on the phone this afternoon. Someone like Jaques D'Ambois, who I've deeply admired all my life and was an inspiration to my teaching and thinking.
Maybe Mike would answer the phone and say, "Hola" Cup his hand over the phone and say something like, "There's some kind of character on the phone for you."
And so if it really was JD, I would have said, " My husband said that you were some kind of a (ha-ha) character." And he would have said, "Maybe he is the character." From there the conversation might turn to tango, and Charlotte, and life and dance and more tango and the tent. A hint of mutual admiration might creep in, but that would really be stretching the fantasy. With another invitation to join us on a Sunday and a little more talk the call would end and I would go back, with a smile, to the rest of my day with the "character" who really exists. Then again..... if he did take the time to call, Mr. D'Ambois would fill my days with smiles, but, of course, why would he call me- a usually frazzled woman in a little rural town in NE PA who wants to tango.

70+ at the tent and DRAGAN

How I want to describe every detail of this special Sunday evening at our tango tent- from the weather to the eager faces, many from Stroudsburg, Allentown, Binghamton, happily mixing with our 35 locals.
But Dragan says it ALL in a simple but complicated way.
Me to Him: What can I say?
Him to Me: We don't need words. Let other people talk.
And that's that.

Another week of every day TANGO

So what if Friday was a night of ballroom at the Scranton Cultural Center. Mike and I can't dance any of the 9 or 10 so we improvised tango to the music. This doesn't happen often. Tango waltz to waltz and milonga to a CHA-CHA? That was Friday. Joe and Mary Ethel offered to open the tent for us today so we could have lunch with Ann and Willy at their impressive home in Stroudsburg. Their home is a smorgasbord for the eyes. One room after the next in tasteful but quiet elegance. I love that house and I adore the people who own it who work so hard to keep the tango alive in the Poconos. A lesson and meeting with Dragan who will travel here on July 12 for a workshop and milonga. Busy day. Finally came up our driveway at 6:30 and were surprised at all the cars and people milling around in the usual Sunday drizzle. Tango tonight was quite a show. Matt and Tina doing the carpa. Dan teaching the hated 8 to the Walshes. Vito and Mary Ethel walking around and around. Matt S having Suz in the sidecar. Marcus and Josh watching it all. Mike and I trying out the new moves from Stroudsburg. Classy little turns and steps. Maybe tomorrow we'll rest.

SILVINA SAYS........

1. GO WITH YOUR BODY - last night at Cathie's excellent lesson at Jack's I moved so differently I didn't know it was me. This was tango. Even our milonga moved freely. My last milonga with Dan in close embrace surprised both of us. Better, much better. How nice to see 10 enthusiasts walking to the BEAT of tango.
2. GO WITH EASE- Silvina stood me up from the breakfast table and took me sideways, backwards, forward over and over in a relaxed embrace. If Silvina only knew how many times I've heard, relax, relax the free leg, breathe, just RELAX. It's #1 on my list of 17.
3.LOOK OUT AT EYE LEVEL AND IT WILL ORGANIZE YOUR SKELETON- picking things around the room at eye level was a distraction for many tandas. Now I understand the way it works. Makes me feel giddy, but my balance is a million times better.
4. DRILL INTO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE BACK OCHO- my axis was secure and I was able to "open my hips". Drilling is not bending the knees. The floor is my first romance.
5. WALK ON THE BEAT- Mike is slowly starting to grasp the beat and will allow me to softly count it out for a few measures. This is the biggest change in our dancing.
6. WATCH HOW YO PLACE YOUR FOOT- I am on my metatarsals with all toes flat. With all the ballet training I had years and years ago I am starting a love affair with the floor. CARESS the floor she tells me. Thank God ballroom has bypassed my limited dancing lessons.
Silvina is my hero and an extraordinary teacher and woman. I watch her over and over on YouTube and our videos to try to channel her energy and grace. She has changed my dance. Might I someday leave the beginner level ? This thought hadn't even crossed my mind. We'll see. MAYBE?

Tango Tent -OPENING

Jerry( deep blue suede) and Adele( green and gorgeous Comme Il Faut) made the long haul from Middletown NY for our first announced opening- a little tango has been going on here for a few Sundays to make sure this one would run smoothly and THAT it did. Everyone got a chance to work on balance and walking- thanks to these 2 kind instructors and the simple exercises we all practiced -though I hate the dreaded basic 8( step 1 and step 8???) A nice crowd graced the floor. They interspersed lessons with the dancing as the night went on. How do you thank people who give so much? Mike actually walked on the beat. Speaking of thanks, Frank said he'd have the bathroom finished today, but at about 4:00 I had my doubts. Frank plugged away and the first flush at 5:45 was music. Mike looks at me and I can tell he's thinking, "What next!" There is no answer to this.
Judy and Al are a surprise. Al looks like a milonguero. He gets it. I feel like a mother hen. Mike is happy that the "true believers" are here and his favorite music is filling the night air. Good food, a quiet group and the lighting makes the tango tent looks like a spaceship from the outside. What a way to start our third summer under the sky.

MIKE LUCEY

Mike is a milonguero. Oliver, who has danced all his life, said it took him 6 months to do the walk that Mike has mastered in 3 years of practice and thinking. Mike moves horizontally through the space like a tractor- steady, balanced and slow. To me it's amazing. Hopefully, we can get others to work hard to accomplish this after our 3 intense workshops with Oliver and Silvina. Silvina, who does not give compliments lightly, said that Mike has GOT IT and she can't believe he has improved that much in 1 year. Well, he has.
More about Mike. There is not a better husband. Mike watches out for me- always. How many men like to vacuum and load the dishwasher. Never does he gossip or say an unkind word about anyone -not even disguised as humor or sarcasm. As Cecilia would say he's more cool. I guess I can go on and on. Foot rubs, back rubs, a sous chef. This soon to be 75 gentleman, dealing with prostate cancer and a sometimes stressed out and hypersensitive wife just does it all. WOW! There is the special way he wraps me up and takes me along in his tango. When our tango tent opens for Sunday milongas this week, we'll renew our embrace over and over. Mike is my hero and I love him more than life, even more than my Comme Il Fauts.

Getting Ready for Oliver and Silvina- One Day and Counting Down

A bit of a frenzy happened yesterday and my God, I can't thank enough all the people who have helped us pull off this coming tango weekend. Me, with my type A, everything-has-to-be-done right kicking in and Roscoe calling me the boss and saluting every time he sees me. Frank, the plumber and tango dancer, brings Frenchy to work on the outside commode. We feed them all lunch then Frank gets the itch to tango. Out of his car come his tango shoes. We are all dirty and tired, but gather in the tent.
Mike puts on the music and my lovely niece, Sue, shows up to watch and laugh at our craziness.
Off come my jeans and I wiggle into a skirt and 3" heels. Mike and I dance first. Not a good one, but I didn't expect much. Now Frank and I take the floor. Another one not so good. The milonga feels energetic and easy. Roscoe wants to give it a try so we do some walking. Roscoe is going to be a tango dancer, if he can settle down enough to learn. Sue, in a cast with a broken foot, declines a chance to walk around the floor, but I see the interest in her eyes. Frenchy steps on the floor last with his size 15 work boots.
Oh am I in trouble if he steps on my foot, but he catches on quickly to the tilt of his chest and his weight up and a bit forward. I tell him to walk as if he's on top of a pair of cross country skis and that he does- collecting the size 15's as he goes. This would have been a good one for YouTube. A sorrier looking group have never graced the tango floor, but what fun.... AND they'll all be back tomorrow.

Jerry Neri 1943 (CANCER SUCKS)- May 2009

Karen Lucey at 3:13pm May 24
Jerry changed our lives in the most interesting way. When we tango in our tent at our home in northeast PA we always think of Jerry and always will. How I teased him about the Sunday stop we made at his house in June 07, always saying "That was the most expensive stop I've ever made." And it was!!!!! Within weeks we'd ordered a concrete pad, Celina tent, clear sides, 20x 30 dance deck etc., etc. -ready to go by the end of September.
When Jerry made his lovely photoart of our tango, which was the last time we saw him in the fall of 08, we had it framed and now it hangs in our dining area where the sun hits it at the end of the summer. Last night at a small dinner party here, a new guest and his wife commented on the art. Mike and I got quiet and sad, but life goes on. The best part of the evening came next- their interest in tango started with questions about our trips to BsAs, we showed them videos of Oliver Kolker and Silvina Valz. They wanted to try some basic walking. The other friends already love the dance so we all headed to our tent for a little tango to tweak the music, check the soft lighting and start our summer season. Mike held me closer and closer. Just a little closer than usual. How I wish Jerry had come to BsAs with us! We have so much to thank him for and because we are HERE so much to be thankful for.
Tango.....y nada mas.

Vince and His Magic Eye

Vince misses nothing. Mike gets thrown off balance and Vince sees why as he carefully corrects my slight lean forward or my head sticking forward - that solves that problem. Vince never insults or hurts my feelings. Vince twinkles. Vince sees me studying my "Ways to Improve" list (now up to 17 items) from many talented instructors in Argentina and doesn't need to look at the list. I tell him what I'm working on and he tells me what I NEED to work on first. For me this usually comes back to posture and axis. All our efforts bounce back to Vince and his ability to analyze, correct and enjoy our enthusiasm as we all learn together- preparing us for our November trip back to the real world of tango.
Sometimes the dance is so comfortable and natural I can't do any better. What a joy to feel the music and get lost. All our Thursday night men are better- even the weak left arms that drive me crazy-feel more like the Zotto embrace. Matt moves like an Argentine. I like his pace. Mike A moves with a solid embrace. Tonight we announced the return of Oliver and Silvina in 2 weeks. This will become such a whirlwind weekend. Dance, food and and flying lessons somewhere in the mix. Their showcases left us breathless in October. Getting ready for the weekend has been moving forward thanks to Roscoe showing up here to work and to help us with the extras- the deck, the mulch on mulch, the garage and on and on. The weekend after the workshop on Sunday, June 7 our tango tent opens every Sunday for this summer. 5:30-8:30. We have more room this year and a few extra surprises for the season. Bring friends. Bring VINCE!

Dancing in the "AND"

Finally I understand the beauty of the "and". The "and" is the center of the dance and the 1, 2, 3, 4 just get us to the "and". The "and" is the place where Mike can pause and I might put in a tiny adorno. If there's no adorno, I might only stand there (slightly moving somewhere) with the concentrated anticipation I watch on the face of Marcela Duran during her Gavito days. The last adorno I learned from Jesus is a gentle circle of the foot only- no movement of the leg or ankle. This one is hard to accomplish- especially trying to keep the movement soft and continuous. More pause. Feel the music. I here this over and over in my head. When Mike and I had our last chance to practice at the Escuela on Florida on Tuesday before we left, "Malena" came on a D'Arienzo cd that we had never heard. ?Los Cantores de D'Arienzo? Mike was so taken by the emotion of the music and tango he said, "I'll never dance like that again." Yes, you will I think. Yes, you will, because now you understand the "and".
And one more thing.
Mike found this Gavito quote that he remembered from our year of Gavito infatuation. "The secret of tango is in this impossible moment of improvisation that happens between step and step. It is to make the impossible thing possible, to dance silence...A good dancer is one who listens to the music...We dance the music not the steps." Carlos Gavito

Rock Star Status -posted by Andi

Hola! Andi here checking in from Rosario, Argentina (Juan’s hometown! Well, city). Karen invited me to contribute to her blog awhile back, so I figured I’d put my author privileges to use. Because while Karen describes with poise the details of our weekend together in Buenos Aires, she does leave a few things out. Things you could only imagine unless you see Karen and Mike in action (I’m sure Donna and Arlene will agree).

Por ejemplo, Karen speaks castellano, the Argentine version of español. And as Andrew puts it, she’s incredibly brave, describing to people she just met in tango class how she broke her toe and explaining to the host at a restaurant why we were confirming a reservation for 4 when we showed up with 5. I don’t know how she does it, but she demonstrates a command of the language that allows her to do more than tango her way through the streets of Buenos Aires. I’m impressed.

Another cosa: Karen and Mike’s apartment on the busy street of Florida is absolutely gorgeous. The vista from their balcony of the city below and the river just within reach is breathtaking. And most importantly, the bedroom has one open wall that provides a home for Karen’s long—and still expanding—line of tango shoes. Her latest find: three shoes of the same silver material, one of a larger size to allow room for her injured toe to breathe. Que buena idea. Or so I think.

Lastly, and I don’t know how to put it, but Karen and Mike are celebrities here. Everywhere we went they ran into at least one person they knew. From the corner restaurant in San Telmo where the entire wait staff recognized them to the milonga at Ideal where one of the feature tangueros invited us to a tango variety show (we were even greeted by the show’s director and producer). And here such an encounter does not warrant a casual glance followed by a quick hello and handshake. It’s besos all around. For everyone, including the amigos from PA.

To put it in a few words, we had a blast. Thanks again Karen and Mike!

Separation Anxiety Starting to Rear Up

Serious Separation Anxiety- only 2 More Days- But What a Night at Ideal
Since we’ve had no water for 3 days we’re a bit grungy. At home, I’d be mad and trying to control it all- phone calls, more phone calls and using my “in charge” manner that I leave behind when we live, notice I didn’t say visit, in BsAs. After a 3:00 AM turn-in, a shower would have been a nice change, but I’d rather NEVER have another shower then return to the life in PA where we busily push to exist in the phony fast-paced world I don’t understand.
Andrew danced with Stella at the Dandi. -moved at a quiet, graceful even pace and on the beat. His first lesson in Argentina and I don’t think it will be his last.
Andi danced with Pablo and floated. Mike and I stumbled along wrestling with each other-too much thinking about the new way of walking. Luckily we know our next few months at home will bring all the lessons together and the dance will flow again.
After 3 hours of Stella and a quick Musel dinner we headed for the show at Confiteria Ideal. Gustavo’s mom was there to see him too. Also talked to Eduardo, Kikki and Silvana.
Headed up to the milonga. Cecilia showed up because she heard we were there. CJ, Andi and Andrew got to meet our instructors and then they put on a show for us with 5 or 6 amazing tangos. Every day here I say to Mike, “This is the best day of my life.” The candy store winds down on Tuesday.

Andi Again.

A 4 hour bus ride from Rosario and Andi is here in BsAs to dance, eat- even though she's a vegan- and laugh. She and Andrew showed up at our apartment on Florida and after a taste of Malbec we headed for the Galerias for an 8:30 lesson with Claude. Claude turned out to be a woman. Claude? Would I name my daughter Claude after my grandfather- the only Claude I have ever known? For me she worked on my inability to relax when I need to let go. " Don't tense the muscles" she repeated and flapped her arms and legs like a rag doll. Changing partners I got to see Mike glide along with Andi. WOW. Andrew hung out with CJ and then we took the group for an early, 10:30, dinner at Filo. Filo has entertainment of a different kind. Watching the waiters and waitresses parade up and down the hallway from kitchen to customer is a show. They walk to the beat of the music that is tuned down in the background. You can feel the beat vibrate through the floor like a drum. If only I could teach Mike to find that beat in the tango. His beat is in his head to some unknown instrument or thought. Claude walked behind us for a few minutes clicking her fingers loudly to help Mike find the 1,2, 3, 4. He said, "I can't find it or hear it."
"So what?" I think every time. Go with the dance you feel and take me with you. Tonight we'll have our last "Stella fix" at the Dandi then on to watch Gustavo dance at Ideal. Winding down for our last few precious days here. Somber is the mood as the soon to see fast food restaurants ruin my mood. CJ said his first return trip to Dalton put him in cultural shock. How lucky to have 5 months here in an exchange program, but then how do you ever go back?

JOHANA=#1

15 days of lessons- then Johana
All the figures run together in a blur and the worst part of this is that I hate figures.
Johana was so kind to take Mike and me into a separate room at the Museum of Tango at the Academia and work with us on basic walking for an hour.The floor was slippery , newly waxed, and I kept sliding nervously off my axis.
Julio wet a towel and put it in the corner where we could plant our feet every few minutes. My dancing has NEVER been worse and Mike was no better. All the skating lessons we had before our pairs competition didn’t help -the slippery floor worked under us like a sheet of ice. The 2 ½ years of hard work since we started with Johana in November of 06 fell away into awkward nonfeeling tango- the tango I can't tolerate. The more I worried about what she was thinking the worse I danced. Side step, short step, l-o-o-o-ng step. The V. Reach back, push back. Finally the last tango and we were free to stare at beautiful Antonella. Mike held her for a picture then we went to the street and hopefully better days ahead. Giving up the skating was easy. After all, 1 broken arm and 1 dislocated shoulder somehow meant I'd had enough. After this lesson I think giving up the tango might be the best choice for my old bones and broken little toe. Ah! But what to do with the 3 new pairs of 3" heels and all the many little leather flower shoe adornments that I bought for myself and as gifts. David at Tango 8 in Abasto has them made locally. These little clip-on flowers make the old shoes look elegant and new. A steal for 25 pesos a pair. My entrepreneurial mind says why don’t we buy 500 pairs and sell them in the US at dance events. Mike says let's sell them as a non-profit organization and pour the money back into the tango community in some way to promote the dance. I like the non-profit idea, of course.

Jesus ( Not the Easter One) and the S-L-O-W Walk

So here we are dancing every day- 15 in a row- and sometimes more than 2 hours. Jesus gives us a 1 hour lesson and what do we do for the hour. WALK. This walk just about did us in. Mike is hobbling around ever since and my feet are mostly in hot water for hours. This walk was painfully slow. We'd go slow and he'd say slower. We'd go slower and he' say slower. Slower than watching grass grow. Jesus, on the floor, planting my feet and then holding my hips level. 1 hour of this over and over. Almost at the end of the hour I said, "Oh, Jesus!". Mike's eyes widened and he suppressed a laugh. I laughed inside. Before our next lesson with this wonderful instructor I promised I'd practice every day. Now my dance is changing and flowing along gracefully. A little magic from an hour of slow walking. The lesson was at one of our favorite studios on Belgrano. After we climbed the stairs Severio greeted us like lost family. Even though Jesus and Severio speak no English we all laugh when he finds out that Mike and he are the same age and he has been dancing for 61 years and Mike for only 2 1/2. Tango binds us to so many.

Reminders of FAR OFF PA

Reminders of Home- People I MISS
ANTHONY- The best steak I’ve EVER had – Friday at the fast food court at Galerias Pacifico. Posteveccia. At the end of the cafeteria like line sits a basket of hard rolls. A gentleman who spoke neither Castellano or English picked up his tray and handled most of the rolls one at a time to find the one of his choosing. I got there next. Anthony would have thrown his tray on the floor and bolted for home. My logic said to pick the 2 rolls at the bottom of the heap and not think about where those groping hands had been. God were they delicious. The beef? How do you describe that in words. Now I hope Anthony isn't too mad at me for not practicing the Hanon's on the glass table in our dining room.

Packing

First we had to go through a few things we didn't unpack from our three trips to BsAs in 2008.
Mike and I were determined to get it all in 2 suitcases and 2 carry-ons. About 1/2 way through the list my bag was already 42 pounds- only 8 to go to the 50 limit and my tango shoes were still in a pile. I scrambled to the attic to look for another smaller bag and threw in my tango shoes, plugs and a bunch of stuff on the bed totally disorganized. EVERY time we go away I say I won't do that, but at the last minute in it all goes in a jumble of junk.
The screeners at the airport will love this one. At least we decided to forgo the 5 jars of peanut butter that were lovingly packed in double zip-locks last November.
Mike comes along and says, "I need to charge my Kindle" I gave him a glassy stare and a glance at the jumble in the suitcase. He said he'd charge it in Buenos Aires. SMART MAN! The driver is coming around 3:30 and every time I glance at the clock my heart races a little too much. The 350 cholesterol lurks in the back of my mind when the ticker ticks harder. The driver today is Darryl. Darryl was supposed to drive us to Sloan Kettering for Mike's horrid Clinical Trial in February, but Gene came in as a last minute substitute. Darryl's 62 year old wife had died unexpectedly the week before. This also plays on my mind, as our ride to Kennedy is often filled with stories about Darryl, his wife and their interesting, never-again-to-be cruises. Being a Great Worrier instead of a Great Warrior, I worry that Darryl and "I Don't Even Know Her Name" never had or will have the immense joy from a 3 minute Argentine tango.

Joaquin Canay and Technique

4 hours of tango today in Pittston and still learning so much. Our private lesson was at 11:00. Mike worked on more pause and a lingering leg. The dance felt good. I worked on collecting my thighs- not so easy- making my leg an extension into my torso and my vexing problem of never completely relaxing. The dance consumed me. 1:00 we had the first group lesson- 7 couples back to basics. Joaquin and our dear friend, and instructor, Katerini showed the men easy ways to start and finish ochos. Ochos and walking. Ochos and walking some more. I never get tired of the security blanket of the beginning lesson. All the walking settles over me and I BECOME the dance. 2:30- 4:00 we worked on boleos. Boleos look like hell if the foot and leg are wrong. I am timid about boleos. Every woman should have a movie of her boleos. My God they are ugly if the foot turns in or the free leg is askew. Marissa Quiroga- no relation to Guillermina- spent hours with my leg and foot in the boleo and I still refuse to take it off the floor for a higher kick. One look in the mirror and the leg stays as low as it can go. Mike likes the lateral boleo we learned from Johana Copes and he surprised me with a few of those during our last tangos. So now we're ready for BsAs again and tomorrow the packing begins in earnest. "Foot on the floor" boleos are on my "to do" list for April. Nobody has to worry about a kick in the leg from this woman dancer.

Our Last Night in Clarks Summit

It doesn't get any better than this night. Tina, who is a natural, came first. This gave us about 30 minutes to walk, do torso and balance work. She just soaks it all up and transfers all the learning directly to movement. I tell her something simple- something like, "Watch that your foot doesn't turn in when you step and for the rest of the night she turns her feet out. This puzzles me. How does she do that? I can't wait until this summer when we open our tent and we can practice all we know. I love and respect her ability to learn. Matt came next. A total of 7 couples on the floor at one time. Right before Cathy left I made a video of her tango with Mike. This man is amazing.
He's right up there with the best. A little like Carlito Perez and Gustavo ZAid. My milonguero after only 3 years of hard and dedicated work.
At 8:30 we played "A Juan Carlos Copes", my favorite milonga because it's short and jaunty and Mike can make it through the entire 83 seconds. Matt, Matt, Suz and Tina helped us pack up the tables and chairs. With a little help coming our way we can dismantle the dance floor and put it away in the morning. One more private lesson with Vince on Thursday. One more tango workshop on Saturday with Joaquin Canay and we're ready for tango in the deep deep south. That 11 hour plane ride just doesn't see so long when the real dance awaits.

Hope we can manage all this!

Sunday will be the last chance to dance at our winter space in Clarks Summit. Monday the headaches begin. Because we moved in over a 3 week period, I didn't realize the accumulation of things that have to be hauled out. 13 tables, 30 chairs, tango pictures, the coat rack that Mike almost made level. Next there are the signs, the lights, the 8' ladder, vacuum, garbage can, storage containers and the still thriving poinsettia we feed every Sunday with 4 huge scoops of ice.
If all goes well, about 5 helpers and 2 trucks will drive in on Monday morning at 10:00- rain date Tuesday or Wednesday- and if anyone is reading this just stop by and help for an hour or two. The hard part is moving the 1000 pound dance deck and hardboard under it.
Today I called Celina Tent in Ohio and ordered a sister tent 15 X 15 for our "tango tent" at the airport. These things cost a fortune. Might as well do it now, I thought, as we may have to pack it up, head south and LIVE in it next year.

Making Videos

Since we'll be closing our space in Clarks Summit in 16 days- only 2 more Sunday milongas, Mike and I decided to set up our video camera and take a good look at what we've learned before our April trip to BA. My dancing looks stiff. The long leg that reaches back isn't so long after all. Why do I think I look like Silvina Valz?
Balance and footwork seem fair, but the dynamics aren't there. Cecilia Gonzalez and my other wonderful instructors gave me a list of 7 ways to improve my dance. If I'm in a practice mode and not lost in the dance ( which is rare)I pick just one to work on. Yesterday it was a deeper knee bend on my standing leg and a push with the toes to propel back. Certainly looks different on the video than it feels. My best guess is that I need to relax more and let the dance happen. HAH!
Mike had a wonderful hint from Vince- to stop thinking about walking and think about where he wants to go- where he wants to take me. This made a huge change in his lead. He feels like Chiche- just taking me along for the ride. Most of our dance is just walking and thinking about Miguel Zotto's emphasis on embrace. Figures we save for another day.

This one was a success!

Yesterday The Scranton Times had my favorite headline. "Best Bets for Sunday- Argentine Tango" Guess where? This one we made special. Andi had her going away cake. Vince had a photographer come at 5:00 and I think he took 1,000 pictures. In came one new couple from Sugarloaf who smiled and smiled. About 5:45 we had the lesson and Mike and I made movies of many of the dancers. 20 of us gathered around the floor watching and learning. Juan suggested the celebration waltz and the guys danced with Andi. Even Mr. Mazz did some walking and side stepping. This turned into a late night for us. A little more work than usual on the clean up end. After we watched the downloaded movies spent another 1/2 hour watching Oliver and Silvina in Moscow doing swing, tango and a milonga- a milonga that can't be described as dance. It is pure joy and energy like a cyclone moving along the floor. All of these are on YouTube from their recent trip to Russia. Anyway it was just the way a tango evening should be.

Wisdom? Maybe yes, maybe no

TANGO- a place of boundless generosity.
WISDOM- let the tango happen, don't make it happen.
BALANCE-as it is in tango, balance in life is a narrow place.
****May all beings be at ease************
Will someone tell me why I am so crazy about this dance?

Matt and Andi and MILONGA!

How Matt and Andi learned that many milonga steps- many with a difficult and quick lead is an amazement. I loved his laminated list. 33 on the front and 33 (more advanced) on the back. The intricate little ochos and grapevines and of course the sentada- not for the weighty tangueras- were a delight to watch. Matt dragged me on to the floor to try his leading and I could follow quite well for the beginner that I am. Just as we were shutting down at 8:30 Mike got out to work on the ochos. Back were good- the front ones a little harder to lead. Always another week for us to perfect some of this. Close embrace seems impossible with some of the steps!
Milonga makes me happy. Everyone who pitches in week after week to help us makes me even happier. What a kind group of people!

Jerry Neri and our "Tango Tent" Part 1

This story can get so long and so involved, and so so boring if I include the details, and there are tons of details. I might compose in 2 or 3 parts. The bottom line is that it cost us a ton of money which turned into summers of great Sunday pleasure and our own tango tent under the stars.
Part I.
Trying to get to the beginning of our encounter with Jerry and Randi started with a trip to NYC to see Jersey Boys with the Durkins. After that, I kept my eye on Frankie Valli on the web to see if he'd be in our area. The closest one I found was at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, NJ. Bought the tickets, not looking forward to the 3 hour drive, and then the unexpected happened and Mike was sheduled for prostate surgery at Sloan Kettering. Frankie was put on hold.
Again I searched and found he'd be at the Mountain Laurel Center only 1 hour from our home in NE PA. Bought these tickets, but never saw FV this time either. Came really really close though.
This worked out perfectly as we were on our way that weekend (Sunday afternoon)to Russell Sage College in Troy, NY to here John Gatto speak about public- and all- education. As usual Mike checked the route on Mapquest or Google and plottted spots along the way where we just might tango if the timing was right. Packed up our small Rialta motorhome on Saturday afternoon and off we went. This was at the end of June in '07.

Watching Andrew Walk

On Saturday, February 14, the phone rang. This was just a week after we plastered our phone number in 14" letters on the front window at our tango space in Clarks Summit. On the line was Andrew with such a sweet idea. He asked if our tango organization had gift certificates for Valentine's Day.
I said no, but asked him to join us on Sunday. He thought that was a great idea and it would be the gift his girlfriend would like for that special day - the day we all pretend not to like, but still wait for something special. My something special was a delivery of the softest gerbera daisies. The note said, "These girls want to be like you when they grow up" Love, Lorenzo. Could Lorenzo be MIKE?
Sunday around 6:00, in came Andrew- a senior at Abington Heights- and his lovely girlfriend- a student at Keystone. They watched everyone dance a bit, watched our videos and soon they were out on the floor walking to the music and believe me it was a "tango walk" with a hint of love and confidence. I told him to hold his chest as if he'd just won a prize and it helped keep his weight up and forward. He also got the hang of keeping one leg back so not to start a jerky movement between steps- almost as smooth as Mike. They were such a pleasure to watch and as the evening progressed they tried close embrace for a few tangos. Sure hope we see them again SOON. That evening was a special one for me. Holly, and Sandra dancing with Dan. Walter making up some great milonga steps and asking, " Is that right?" 18 of us struggling with a dance we hardly know. Like life.

What Were We Thinking???

Back in 2007, here was our plan to try to organize a sequence of figures between our not so balanced walking. I said,"Let's name the moves we like so we'll have a reference for our practice sessions." Yesterday when I was putting some tango photos away, I found a neatly printed list in capitals on a 3 X 5 card. This was all a good plan at the time, but now it has no meaning.
What could I possibly have meant by the "Ocho Cortado 3 Cut". How about these- "The Carolina", "The Angel Barrida", "Angel 2 Step", "Opposite Walk", Demian 1 Back Ocho", "Vince",
and to top it all off "The Double Bug". Is this insanity? I can't remember why or what any of this means. Maybe a few videos would have been a better plan. As I recall, there are more of these cards with intricate lists of odd steps. LUCKY US!

To Write About- A List

Stretching the shoes- Thinking back to when I only had one pair.
The Carlos Gardel movie- out in 1935 and the 12 second scene with Piazzola as a 12 year old.
Watching Piazzola play Adios Nonino. Watching anyone play Adios Nonino.
The time I demonstrated with Chiche and he called me a milonguera.
Mike's endless YouTube tangos on Cd's. You want ocho cortado. You get ocho cortado.
Alberto Paz and his gift for the music and lyrics.
My favorite instructors in BA. Little things that stick from each one.
Zotto's smile in his eyes.
Jerry Neri and our stolen idea for a "tango tent"

Snow and sleet for our 3rd milonga

Just after we left for Clarks Summit to set up the 5:30 dance- which means shopping for ice and snacks- the sleet started.
With the temperature at 19 I thought we were going to skid our way to Clarks Summit. 5:30 came, 5:45 came and it was Mike and I doing a quiet traspie to Poema. Me thinking it would be an evening of tango for 2. The more I think about tango, I think it's only and always tango for 2. Slowly the dancers and the curious walked in - the new couples and singles looked at the lovely space and the night turned out to be a wonderful evening of dance and laughter. How lucky we are to have found the tango. How lucky we were to stumble into the perfect tango space with Ed Mazeleski being so generous with his attitude. Whatever you do is fine with me!
Now I want to share my favorite Gardel of the week- "Cuesta Abajo" from a cd we bought at the Plaza Dorego in San Telmo on a Sunday. Marco Bellini pulls the orquesta tipica together with a perfect and haunting tenor. Name of the group is "Tango Al Palo".
One last item. The dance floor is now a real dance floor.

Solution to the Spongy Dance Deck Problema

Ripped it all up. Got 14 sheets of 1/8 " hardboard and put it down. Crawled around with a roll of duct tape to keep the hardboard from shifting.
Put it all back and, wow, it helped. Almost perfect- now we can dance. WE CAN DANCE.
Nothing like lifting 2000 pounds to keep us young?
True confessions. Had help from Dan Wilga who picked up the hardboard and helped us put it all back. Frank ran in to offer a little help, too. How I wish Cecilia and Gustavo were here to have the first dance. If I only could magically transport them out of the Carlos Copello school in BA.

Ah! Andi

How beautifully she dances and how smart she is to be packing off to Rosario for 8 months- just north of Buenos Aires- with a Fulbright and her love of tango. With a little planning we'll spend some time with her in the capitol- maybe April and definately in November. Last night at our"winter tango tent" she looked so graceful with Matt. I like her style.
Now what to do about the squishy dance deck. Donna C made such a face when she tried to pivot we all burst out laughing. Me, I can't even walk backwards without falling off my axis.
Mike and I thought of trying to lay some hardboard under it -Dick thinks it might work, but Dalton Carpet says no. If the weather holds we'll do a test spot tomorrow. Why do these wonderful plans often run backwards? At least all this amuses me.

From The DANCING WU LI MASTERS

And from EMBRACE TIGER, RETURN TO MOUNTAIN
He begins from the center and not from the fringe. He imparts an understanding of the basic principles of the art before going on to the meticulous details, and he refuses to break down the t'ai chi movements into a one-two-three drill so as to make the student into a robot. The traditional way. . .is to teach by rote, and to give the impression that long periods of boredom are the most essential part of training. In that way a student may go for years and years without ever getting the feel of what he is doing.

Explaining the Essence of the Dance

1. Not a dance you learn -it's a dance you explore
2. How can a dance that has only 5 basic steps- forward and back walking, side stepping, change of weight and pivoting- be so complicated.
3. The MAN ( in this country- the LEADER) controls the movement.
4. Balance and the embrace start you on your way.
5. Maintain your own axis and if you are the WOMAN (FOLLOWER), as Sr. Copes emphatically states, "Don't lead!"
6. Use the music to feel and develop the moves. Don't rush.

Thinking About "Malena"

After our last trip and numerous lessons- walk, walk and more walk, I was told to start reading tango lyrics. Could this activity improve my dance? Yes. I think it does. How I'd love a better grasp of Spanish- the translation loses something.
Anyway so here's some of "Malena"
Malena canta el tango como ninguna Malena sings the tango like no one else
y en cada verso pone su corazon. and in every single verse she pours her heart.
A yuyo del suburbio su voz perfuma, Like a slum weed her voice excudes
Malena tiene pena de bandoneon Malena has the sadness of a bandoneon
Tal vez, alla en la infancia, su voz de alondra Perhaps, back in her childhood, her lark's voice
tomo ese tono oscuro del callejon, acquired that dark intonation of a back alley
o acaso aquel romance que solo nombra or maybe it is the romance she only names
cuando se pone triste con el alcohol when she gets sad with the alcohol
Malena canta el tango con voz de sombra Malena sings a tango with a somber voice
Malena tiene pena de bandoneon Malena has the sadness of a bandoneon

So if you want to hear this one. My favorite is Roxana Fontan singing it as if she were Malena.

Our First Milonga in Clarks Summit

So what a surprise when 21 showed for our first milonga. Lights were low, music just right - a little spongy on the dance deck, but such a fun and interesting evening. Matt took care of the 2 new women and Mike, Cathie and I got the 2 new couples started with a bit of walking.
Went so smoothly I don't know why I was so tired by the end of the first hour.
Cleaned it all up and out of there by 9:00.
Having the cortina on the Ipod and the regular milonga format of music was a change for our group. "Malena" and "Milonga Para Gavito" are my favorites this week. Also was happy with the 3 pieces by Canaro to work on our traspie- "Ciego", "Hotel Victoria" and "Poema"

POEM FOR JUAN

After the new banners fell down on the floor of our "winter" home for tango in Clarks Summit I decided to write my poem to Juan- just to take my mind off the 50 more times up the 8' ladder.

For JUAN- A Reponse


Juan dances a tango- a tango with words
The sound circles around in his head until the last note
When you observe his pen, the tip suddenly stops- a parada- and his eyes close
Partially in thought and sometimes thinking of other dancers
If the writing is sloppy or disorganized, he quickly starts over
Pressing the pen to the paper until the line satisfies him
    and things are moving on again in his solo fashion
Juan has a gentle secret- a secret you can find in his eyes
Juan is forever dancing a tango
    Karen Lucey May 2008

Getting Ready for TANGO

Today we lay the dance deck in the spot we're now calling the "winter tent". Also have to haul down cleaning supplies- the place is in need of a real bath- and chairs and as usual the list keeps growing. The previous occupants, during the holidays, sold Christmas trees outside and inside. No problem until we realized they were using a chain saw INSIDE. No problem there either. A glorious smell fills the space and a million pine needles found there way into the carpet where we'll lay the dance deck. No problem with the smell, but the needles?
Next Sunday- January 11, 2009 we'll dance here. 611 S State St in Clarks Summit. 5:30-8:30.
Mary Ethel said she'd vacuum and Mike and I will do the dirty work of cleaning the bathroom.
Dan is in charge of the floor and it might be fun???
Still need a place to hang coats.

FIRST NIGHT Scranton PA

Packed our car in the 15 degree gusts and headed for Scranton at 4:00. Picked up the official First Night Artist tags and with the help of the Callahans unloaded the tables, signs, sound system and all else into the Scranton Cultural Center.
Table in the lobby with a tv and video of Zotto and others doing a basic walk. Everything else up to the 4 th floor- Shopland Hall where we still weren't sure we were welcome -too many questions about why we were there and who SAID we could occupy that space. All in place by 5:30 so we waited and talked and danced a little unitl the streams of curious came in to try a little walking. Thanks to Cathie we had a group lesson at 7:15 and all our friends and tango community popped in to dance and say hello. Mike and I dragged everyone we could onto the floor for a few circles of walking and then it was 8:30. Packed it all up and back into the cold.
This one was a huge success and in 12 days we'll open or own little tango winter home in Clarks Summit- every Sunday 5:30-8:30. 611 S State St. 570:945-4047